(4) 1/13/12 (SWITZERLAND) Police have interviewed Swiss People’s Party strongman Christoph Blocher as part of an investigation into the leaking of bank data in the Hildebrand affair. An IT worker at Bank Sarasin has admitted passing the confidential information to a lawyer. The bank fired the employee and pressed criminal charges against the employee and unnamed third persons for violations of bank client
confidentiality [ITS TOUGH TO BE A BANK WHISTLEBLOWER IN SWITZERLAND!]
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/Police_interview_Blocher_in_Hildebrand_affair.html?cid=31939476

(17) 2/22/12 (INDIA) Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik to register an FIR against Mumbai Congress President Kripashankar Singh for criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act and has asked the Commissioner to attach all immovable properties belonging to Singh and his family. Kripashankar Singh has resigned as Mumbai Congress chief following the court directive.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-cong-chief-quits-after-hc-procecution-order/232752-37-64.html

(19) 2/23/12 (SWITZERLAND) Sarasin also said on Thursday it had sold its stake in Neue Zuercher Bank (NZB), one of the 11 banks under investigation by U.S. officials, in an attempt to isolate itself from problem U.S. client assets. The global crackdown on tax evasion by cash-strapped governments is causing a big shake-up in Swiss private banking that is prompting a wave of consolidation as many smaller players struggle to survive without the lucrative business of managing untaxed assets. Straehle said the fact the bank's future was secure now Safra had taken a stake should mean the bank can return to a growth path and poach staff from other struggling players. "We are convinced that our focus on sustainability and tax-compliant assets will pay off in the long run and that with the backing of Safra as a well-capitalised majority shareholder we can look forward to exciting prospects," he said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/23/sarasin-idUSL5E8DN2RW20120223

(20) 2/24/12 (HAITI) Haiti prime minister abruptly resigns post Conille, a physician who previously served as an aide to Bill Clinton in the former U.S. president's role
as U.N. envoy to Haiti
http://trib.com/news/world/haiti-prime-minister-abruptly-resigns-post/article_6fcdcb65-de9d-5c91-95ee-
231a98736162.html

(21) 2/24/12 (NEW ZEALAND) The four directors of Lombard Finance - including former cabinet ministers Sir Douglas Graham and William Jeffries - have been found guilty of making untrue statements in the company's offer documents.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/198940/former-ministers-found-guilty

(22) 2/24/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Banker Mukhtar Ablyazov 'fled to France on coach' Mukhtar Ablyazov, the millionaire banker sentenced to 22 months in prison for contempt of court, has fled the UK and is understood to be hiding in France, a court heard. Ablyazov, the former chairman of BTA Bank, is alleged to have conducted fraud "on epic scale" while in charge of the bank. He fled to the UK after leaving the bank, claiming asylum against political persecution. The case against him alleges he misappropriated billions of pounds while in charge of BTA. In related cases, two other individuals - Paul Kythreotis, a business associate of Ablyazov, and Syrym Shalabayev, brother-in-law and associate of Ablyazov - have been sentenced to prison for contempt.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financial-crime/9104787/Banker-Mukhtar-Ablyazov-fled-to-France-on-coach.html

(1) 2/23/12 (JAPAN) HSBC quits Japan consumer banking. HSBC says it will pull out of the consumer banking market in Japan by shutting down six branches. It started the business in Japan four years ago. The bank said it will gradually phase out services for retail clients, but will continue serving corporate customers. HSBC is undergoing a major revamp of its global operations. Last year, it said it would withdraw from "quite a few" retail banking markets over the next few years.
http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20120223/news_20120223_56_820764.htm